Encounterlogs
Ritsukas Odd Encounter Sr Lanaeis 241104
On a cold, moonlit night, Ritsuka, while preparing for work in her simple yet elegant shrine home, is suddenly interrupted by a ghostly presence. This supernatural encounter is not entirely new to her; the temperature drops and objects are hurled across the room by unseen forces. Ritsuka, undeterred and pragmatic, attempts to negotiate with the spirits, brandishing a wakizashi in preparation for a ritual. The culprits reveal themselves to be the tormented souls of two children, a boy and a girl, seeking vengeance for their untimely deaths at the hands of their father. Ritsuka, empathetic yet firm, offers them shelter and protection in exchange for peaceful cohabitation. However, the situation escalates as the children, transformed into malevolent wraiths by their traumatic demise, attack Ritsuka. Utilizing her ritualistic prowess and the latent protection of her shrine, she endeavors to banish them, aiming to liberate their souls from their earthbound torment.
The narrative then shifts focus to Ritsuka's mission involving Angela Henderson, a woman wrongly accused of being a supernatural criminal. Entrusted with resolving this delicate matter, Ritsuka gathers a team of allies and strategizes a non-violent approach. They discover Angela silently serving breakfast at a community center, her demeanor far from that of a criminal. Angela reveals she's been unjustly targeted after unwittingly coming across sensitive documents at her workplace, which led to her dismissal and subsequent persecution by powerful entities including the Hand and the Temple. Angela's testimony unveils a larger, ominous scheme involving the disappearance of the homeless, hinting at a grim project in Boston. Ritsuka, weighing the gravity of Angela's plight and the murky machinations she's entangled in, offers her sanctuary and a chance at a new life under the Order's protection. This begins a deeper investigation into the sinister operations of Vetronics, setting the stage for further revelations and confrontations in the shadowy world Ritsuka navigates.
(Ritsuka's odd encounter(SRLanaeis):SRLanaeis)
[Sun Nov 3 2024]
In an Entrance Hall and Kitchen
The entrance to the shrine home is simple and elegant. The entrance is made up out of a smooth stone floor at the genkan, the traditional Japanese entryway. A small, neatly arranged rack holds different pairs of women oriented shoes, while a low wooden bench offers a place to sit and remove footwear before stepping up onto the polished wooden floors of the main home. Above, an overhead beam made from dark cedar wood bears hand-carved motifs of swirling clouds and sacred cranes, symbols of longevity and protection.
To the side, the kitchen area appears to be both functional and minimalist. A simple wooden counter, free of clutter, holds carefully arranged utensils and a ceramic tea set. A black iron kettle sits atop a traditional stove. Small shelves on the wall display earthenware jars containing rice, miso, and other essentials, each jar decorated with intricate calligraphy.
It is night, about 35F(1C) degrees, and there are a few wispy white clouds in the sky. There is a waxing crescent moon.
(A ghost with only fragments of memory that have driven them near insane is attacking your target. They must either defeat it or find a way to calm it down.
)
Ritsuka is just making her way into the kitchen area of her home, which then can also be exited from by another door. She had just put on a coat, some make up - and looks close to divine as she reaches around her kitchen to finish preparing a bento box for herself. It seems she is intending to leave for work very soon.
Morning light drifts in through the windows, pooling like liquid on the floor. As Ritsuka is going about her business of preparing for a day of work, it does seem just a bit colder than a minute ago. It could be Ritsuka's imagination, but there is a flicker in the corner of her eye, gone before she can turn toward it. The door leading outside shudders slightly, but that is the only significant thing that happens for a moment. The rustling of food preparation are all that is heard... Until the box Ritsuka is preparing is launched from her hands and straight up, barely missing hitting her in the face. It clatters to the floor, spilling its contents across the floor.
Ritsuka glances around the room - and there is an audible sigh that leaves from her. The colder temperature? Stuff being flung around, yeah, she has seen it already a couple of times. "How rude, if you want to be haunting this place you got to at least pay rent. You got to clean this up now, I'm not working for you and you are leaving all the housing costs to me already." She does reach around her dress, though she looks almost divine as she currently is, she is not unarmed, and so, a little blade, a wakizashi draws from under her coat into one of her hands. She makes no stance - people familiar with ritualism know it for what it is: She is preparing to cast a ritual, she does point out. "Do I need to cast a ritual to ask you to leave or can we be civilized people and see how you can be allowed to rest gently?"
A flicker near the shelf heralds a jar of rice rising from the shelf. A faint voice whispers "Not again." Before the jar comes flying at Ritsuka. She is barely able to move out of its way, as a small form slowly materializes. It appears to be a small boy, about eight. His clothes are stained with a mixture of mud and blood. The latter pours freely from the gash in his throat. He has brown hair, tangled with leaves and twigs, and blue eyes that are filled with a sadness that seems to weigh on the very soul. His cheeks are stained with tears, and his feet are bare. He appears to be wearing pajamas, though from the amount of filth and blood on him, its hard to tell. "You didn't stop daddy. Why mommy? Why didn't you stop daddy?" Turning, Ritsuka will find herself faced with another child, this one a girl. She is wearing similar clothing to the other boy, with long brown hair that falls to the middle of her back. Large patches of it have been yanked out... along with the flaps of skin on her scalp, baring her skull in several places. Her stomach has been brutally torn open, the jagged rip spilling visceral gore down her legs in tendrils. The right side of her face is visible, scratched and bloody, the eye on that side swelling shut. The left side, however, is caved in, the eye hanging from the battered socket. "You left us mommy." The girl says, her voice like the whisper of wind through dead leaves.
Ritsuka lets out a long sigh again, if these two just would not be causing trouble in the form of unpaid labor for cleaning today. "I am doubting your mother would abandon you to this fate if she had been able to stop it. More likely she got hurt, too." She sighs. "You can stay here if you behave. I will protect you, but-" She gestures to the food on the ground now. "No more throwing food around? And I can find and punish whom has hurt you."
The boy scuffs his foot against the ground, leaving a streak of blood. "You left us. Daddy said he would deal with it, and you left us mommy." "He hurt us mommy. Why did you just stand there? Why?" The girl's intact cheek is streaked with tears as she stares up at Ritsuka. The temperature in the room has dropped to an almost freezing temperature now, Ritsuka's sheer clothing becoming a punishment as cold bites at her skin.
Perhaps if it was not for being at a shrine dedicated to the cult's Eidolon, the frost would bite Ritsuka more, but she does reach for her coat to close it all the same, but she keeps holding on to that blade of hers. And it is where she finds herself less worried, a kami, or Eidolon, is protecting her here somewhat. Her eyes do lower. "Maybe she has tried to get help, little children. But some men can be very cruel, and he got to her before she can get help." She holds the blade over her other palm. "Can you tell me who your father is? Your mother could not do what she wanted, but you are with me now. I can help you now and be righteous vengeance." the blade lowers again and she tries to pat the ghostly figure of the girl on the head with her free hand, trying to wipe away one of her tears. Her expression is gentle, and something sad lingers in her eyes.
When Ritsuka's hand come into contact with the girl's head, she can feel a bitter cold tearing into her very mind, before all she can see is white... Mommy wakes her up, but its still dark out. Bobby is there too, and daddy says its time to go for a ride in the car and mommy says to go get in the car. Bobby is still asleep like always and daddy drives her and mommy and Bobby out into the forest. Daddy says to get out and wait with mommy and then daddy goes into the trunk and pulls out something shiny and mommy is hugging Bobby but mommy gives Bobby to daddy and holds her hand. She follows Bobby and daddy into the woods and daddy has the hammer and his hunting knife. She's cold and the woods are painful and she's got no shoes. Mommy says we'll be there soon so she hugs close to mommy and Bobby is waking up. She's in a clearing. Daddy has Bobby and is hugging Bobby. Then Bobby's on the ground and he's bleeding and screaming and she's running. Mommy starts to come after her but daddy says he'll deal with it and he's running after her. Daddy grabs her hair and she screams and keeps running and branches are hitting her head and it hurts so so bad. Daddy grabs her again when she runs into a tree. She cries and asks him why and daddy just smiles and it hurts so bad. Ritsuka can see now, not through the girl. A man in dark clothing lifts the hammer again. Crunch. Again. Squelch. He's holding the knife now. Bending over his daughter as she dies, he gashes open her stomach, reaching inside and pulling out a fistful of gore. "This will do." He calls to his wife. she carries the boy over, dropping him next to the girl. "Will they be found?" "No, its too far out. Something will eat them first." "Will their souls work to bring it out of the Nightmare?" "They should. I made sure they died in pain like it said." "Good." She turns away from the bodies. The man nods as the scene fades out. When Ritsuka can see again, both children are standing in front of her. "Mommy? You left us." The gleam of metal flashes in the boy's hand. A knife. "You said you'd never leave us mommy." He lifts the knife and touches it to Ritsuka's throat. "You lied mommy. And lying is bad."
"I am not your parent," Ritsuka states, and she has dealt with ghosts on more than a handful of occasions by now and she just takes a step back. It's a child, and she is very tall for a Japanese woman. But the two have become dangerous, and they clearly cannot see that. And so, her own blade raises over her own palm, and draws blood. The thing is way too sharp and cuts her skin like butter. It is not deep, but enough to look pretty horrible - that is until the beads of her blood start to raise into the air as floating blue lights. Those familiar with far eastern culture might know about the tales of kitsune's foxfire. Her features take up a far more focused expression, though the sadness lingers in her eyes. Her tone retains a gentle. "Your parents were bad people. Don't hold on to them now, you should go to home, in the spirit realm. There will be a lot of people that will cherish you both a lot there." She huffs "And I can never genuinely lie, my blood forbids it."
The children circle Ritsuka, the girl lifting a hammer into the light while the boy clutches the knife. "Your like mommy." The boy says, his form beginning to waver. "Your like mommy and daddy and you lie. Lying isn't nice miss." The boy vanishes, and a streak of cold, white agony spears her mind as the boy reappears, hand thrust into her chest. "Your like mommy." The girl reaches out a hand, the limb turning into a monstrous claw. "We're like mommy now too. It told us we can come back and do to mommy and daddy like they did to us. See?" She claws the air, her childlike features beginning to morph into something, more vile. Long fangs protrude from her mouth, and her undamaged side collapses in with a wet crunch. The boy watches his sister in slowly dawning horror. "T-Tia? Where'd Tia go? Mommy? Mommy!" He ducks behind Ritsuka, clinging to her, the knife melting into his body and reappearing buried in his throat, handle jutting under his chin as he holds onto Ritsuka with both tiny hands. Ritsuka vaguely remembers something about wraiths, or was it specters? Either way, this is clearly some kind of twisted spirit, corrupted by some nightmare influence. And now, it is lunging straight at Ritsuka, sharp teeth shiny as the room's temperature plunges. It snaps at Ritsuka, barely missing as some force prevents it from ripping out Ritsuka's throat. When it comes in contact with the magical fires of Ritsuka's magic, it lets out a keening wail of agony, shrinking back for a moment.
Does not look happy at all about the ghostly blade pierced into her, and Ritsuka grimaces. But her focus does not break - oddly enough whatever fear she has is only subtle, it is never enough to overtake her and so she holds firm. "Bobby try and stay behind me. Tia is... not the sister you known her right now. I'll help her try and sleep, but you got to make sure you don't get hurt." She tells the child behind herself. Of course, the truth has also been that, this entire time, she could have just left the house, taken her bike, and just left to deal with this later and come back with more people. There is a little huff as the first of blue fires start to change their coloring, into a purple. "It is not okay, Tia. Most people struggle to be good people because it is difficult. Some of us still try to be good people. Anger is so pointless and just hurts everyone and I won't let you hurt your brother."
The wraith grins, flashing her fangs. "It says we can be a family again once mommy and daddy learn how it is to be hurt. Bobby is MY brother! Give him to me!" She shrieks the last part and lunges, claws slashing through the air. Ritsuka is forced back, causing a brief pause in the ritual. Bobby shivers behind Ritsuka, tears pouring down his cheeks. "Tia?" He whimpers, burying his face in Ritsuka's coat.
"You are scaring him, Tia." Ritsuka tries to point out, her focus lapsed a moment, and she does not look all too happy about it. She does not wane on her focus, but there is a sigh that leaves her again, and she turns around to face Bobby. She kneels down to the boy and tries to grasp her arms around him, as far as such an interaction is even feasible with a ghost. "It's going to be alright, Bobby." She tries to focus the lights closer around herself, the previously purple light turned back to blue. "Your parents made her sick. I don't think I can cure her on my own. Can you help me, Bobby?"
Bobby sniffs, clinging tightly to Ritsuka. "I--I can try." He takes Ritsuka's hand, holding tight to it and causing Ritsuka to feel as if her hand is being held in a bucket of icy water. "T-Tia, Tia, mommy and daddy are gone. Can't we just go home Tia? Please?" The wraith pauses, staring at her brother. Ritsuka is able to focus again, progressing the ritual in the wraith's moment of indecision. The wraith steps forward, clawing at Ritsuka. "He is MY BROTHER!" She screeches. "You can't have him!"
(Your target and their allies are charged with tracking down a supernatural criminal on the run from the factions, what they do with them then is up to the players to decide.
)
Had just completed a ghost banishment. Ritsuka is still standing at the entrance hall, where a shrine to Alabaster stands by thee side. She is safe here. A bento box stands on the kitchen counter, perfectly made, but she still huffs in a breathe, and carefully sheathes the blade of her wakizashi back into its sheath. She was headed for work, but the whole thing has delayed her departure significantly. And so, she lingers here for the moment still, looking down at her phone sending a few texts to work on being late.
Sunday morning in the Haven township. It's quiet; Why should it not be, it's the early hours of the day and Ritsuka is at home on Forest View drive. Outside, the world is hostile; Monsters are not yet to have retired, and they stalk the early hours for prey; For victims from which to feed. Ritsuka knows this well, she is a Sword for the Order, and it is Ritsuka who is often tasked with dealing with such criminal evils in the world of the nocturnal land of monsters. The Order preserves the balance, and such creatures of the darkness are dangers to man and beast both. Alas for Ritsuka's plans however, for another issue comes to light; Not one of mundanity, but one more of a supernatural nature. As Ritsuka prepares her food for later and as she texts, Ritsuka sees an announcement flash up on her phone. It is from Venice, seemingly. A criminal has escaped custody. The figure has gained access to some information that the Temple and Hand both agree needs keeping quiet; A curious thing with how the two factions are so often opposed. But it still is the case. The Order's dispatch center reach out over communications and along with the text notification, Ritsuka is asked for in specific; She is reasonable and will get to the bottom of the situation, being able to find answers that more militant members might not. - The information given includes a photograph of a golden haired young lady in her late twenties or early thirties with deep, soulful blue eyes. She is supernaturally attractive- As are many in the world of monsters, but be it the choice of picture, or her general state of demeanour, but she does not look like a criminal. She looks like any poor, down on their luck human getting themselves out of a bad situation. She is poor, yes, but has been taken care of, and wears a pullover with the Great News community center logo across the chest. The name given is Angela Henderson, and her last known location was the Great News community center within Haven, though she's known to work part time as a cleaner within Mister Ash Starling's Rosie's diner on Hart avenue.
Ritsuka lets out a groan when another thing shows up, but then she does read through it. She takes a deep breathe in through her nose, carefully looks over the photo. Perhaps she had previously seen the woman before, when she made brief visits to the community center, but at the same, most of her interactions with it have been left to be handled by her staff. All the same, beauty often means power. Looks can be deceiving, and sop the first she does is actually make a few calls. First call goes to Yuki, asking her if she is free to help with the capture of a run-away Yokai. They talk wholly in Japanese with another. Then it is Haranobu, her friend with the Hanshin Group to see if she can borrow a drone or two, mostly for observation. They, too talk in Japanese. Then it is a call to Aiko, asking her to help observe via GPS data or the drones if the Hanshin Group would do the favor for her. And then, last, comes a call to Lucienne. It is a conversation in English, asking her to arm up and join her as well with the hunt. She does tell for those people that need to be there in person to come regroup with her at her home.
As Ritsuka reads on, more information is transfered to her phone; Angela Henderson is reported to have been working in the Vetr Global expansion into Haven, working in Vetr-Corp Haven Branch's Vetr Mart. She was responcible for stock taking in the self defense section, and stumbled upon a project belonging to the eidolon Dominus that was not for public understanding. This private document, though important, was shipped to the wrong office and was opened by Angela's superviser. However, having read the header, the poor woman was alienated and captured for "her own good". - All of the people contacted answer in the affirmative, and Ritsuka is granted the support she needs. Though what is perhapse most curious is that the Hanshin group have also heard of Angela Henderson and Ritsuka is told that the Tyrell group have passed them documents that suggests that she is a relitively powerful supernatural with angel blood. The additional Hanshin documentation suggests that Angela was "let go" by Vetr-Corp Haven Branch and this is how she found her way into the soup kitchen of the Great News community center. - Ritsuka has seen her before in passing, though at the time, she kept her head low. She's not one of the homeless who rampaged after Viktorin's nonsense, but one of the unfortunates who were serving meals to her fellow homeless. This of course suggests to Ritsuka some sort of cover up. But still, the Temple and the Hand working together, along with Tyrell and the Hanshin group.
Ritsuka grabs a couple of sunglasses as well, you know, just in case, reading on. She does wait for her own support to arrive, and asks them to wait in the car to hide obvious weapons like Yuki's assault rifle. She for her own wraps a ballistic vest on, and closes her coat to hide it. Her backpack also comes along but is stored in her red car. It is certainly the first she drives it in a little while. She also puts her phone on speaker and an active call with Aiko. She now does only speak in English as Lucienne is with them. "Aiko, can you fly one of the Drones around the Community center, above it? We are probably not going to find her easily if she has got a clue and I didn't see her number on her file, so tracking GPS might be difficult." She asks, and then starts up the engine, slowly making her way over to the community center.
That call to Aiko goes through and Ritsuka's band of experts sets up a communications link for the encounter with Angela. The answer is in the affirmative and Aiko sends a drone, responding to explain that it will be a few minutes before it arrives; Perhapse at the same time that Ritsuka manages to reach the Great News community center. The car starts, and Ritsuka begins to drive. It's a sunday, so in a sleepy town like Haven, the roads are largely clear- Ritsuka notices the drone- Or what could be the drone rocketing over head. The travel itself is easy enough, and now the sun is beginning to rise, and the monsters in Haven have retired for the night, Ritsuka arrives at sixty deadwood street in no time at all. The doors are wide open, and community service volunteers in Great News community center shirts and jackets are ushering the homeless in and out of the doors. The lights are on, and the scents of freshly cooked meals, and the sounds of happy people float out into the street. - Across the street, Ritsuka also notices that her staff in the pharmacy are setting up for the day. The lights are also on, so Ritsuka may relax for her own business. - The drone arrives and circles the community center, its cameras shining through the windows, and Ritsuka gets a running commentary; There are no signs of angela in the store- Only workers. No sign of Angela in the kitchen. No sign of her in the community room, and no sign of her in the chapple. - As Ritsuka travels toward the center propper, no one stops her. There is no sign of Angela Henderson at the desk, where a receptionist ushers volunteers and the homeless through, takes early morning phone calls, and there is no sign of her on the bench. - In the food hall though is another matter. Ritsuka notes that the statue of the dragon still remains, but people ignore it. And that's when she spots blond hair and blue eyes as Angela Henderson is seen serving breakfast to the unfortunates. She seems at home and not dangerous in the least. And then the confirmation comes through on Ritsuka's ear piece; The drone spots Angela Henderson behind the soup ckitchen counter. Ritsuka's group ask Ritsuka for instructions and Ritsuka is left with the choice as to how she will address Angela.
Ritsuka quietly tells to her phone to stay on standby for a moment, and she steps on over towards the kitchen counter. She, of course, does draw attention, she is among the beautiful and does look to be wearing expensive clothing. Not her place, not at all. All the same, there is ease when she steps over to Angela and then simply asks. "Henderson-san? Would you accompany me for a while? I was asked to- recover you by a few parties, and I would prefer to have a conversation with you before anything else." She does reach to her own necklace, touching the pendant that states 'his' around her neck, and then her thump brushes over the concealed symbol of the Order. "I think we might be the only ones able to figure this out and make it be right." It's a risk, but violence is never the first option she chooses. And won't be today either.
As Ritsuka steps up, she gets a few looks from some homeless people, but they appear to be used to things like this. That means that Ritsuka isn't bothered, even though a few people whisper between each other. Angela continues to serve people as Ritsuka tells her team to stand bye, and they each answer in the affirmative. Aiko tells Ritsuka that the drone is ready and waiting on the building top. But when she's addressed, Angela doesn't run, or scream, or even react. She looks Ritsuka up and down and hears her out. She nods, and she serves another homeless man, her own ill-fitting Great News pullover old and thread bare. Angela's shoulders tence as Ritsuka reaches for her necklace, but there's a relieved sigh as she notes the Order symbol. Angela is aware of the Order- And the supernatural, and she agrees to talking to Ritsuka. Of course, it takes her a few minutes to deal with a number of other people, serving them food before stepping away. She follows Ritsuka to where ever she asks with her head bowed as though she's done something wrong; It's almost as though Angela were like a child, submissive as one might expect from an angelborn. - Where then does Ritsuka go with Angela Henderson, and what might she say?
Ritsuka guides Angela back out of the building, and back to the car, offering the last seating to the woman. "This is Lucienne, she is an Orderite, too. And this is Yuki. She is with a military. I'll drive us around for a while, oh and this is another one of my friends on phone. Aiko, can you follow us with the drone? See if anyone is going to be following us. We'll be driving around for a while. Keep mobile." She explains. It is only when everyone's settled in that she starts up the engine and then slowly starts the drive. She looks into the back mirror, and then asks. "Henderson-san, the Hand and the Temple are both very interested in you, going so far as to ask Venice for the Order to find you. And even Tyrelle and Hanshin both have a file for you. For all the information that I've been provided, I don't understand the why. Secret project, from what I can see, but there is no details on it. Would you like to tell me about it if you can? Here, with the three of us, we will make sure are as safe as we are able to provide. I did ask them to accompany me because I don't know how dangerous you would be, I am really glad that I was not needed to be so cautious. I apologize that it looks very intimidating." She keeps the vehicle moving. There is no specific direction it seems to be going, just around, and avoiding places like the Vetr-mart and devilwood drive.
"I didn't do anything." Angela tells Ritsuka. "I was just a stock taker. I worked for Vetr Mart like everyone else. I justworked in the back and organized things." Ritsuka can notice however that the mention of the Hand and the Temple seems to scare her. Angela very clearly wants nothing to do with either. "They fired me. I don't know why. Then they said I couldn't say anything. They asked me to sign a non disclosure agreement. I did, and I said nothing. I lost my apartment, my job and then I had people with neutralizer collars and powerful supernaturals hunting for me. They said I did something I shouldn't, but promice I didn't. I didn't do anything. I did what everyone asked. Now they're going after me and they're saying I'm a criminal, that I escaped from somewhere. I have no idea what's going on..." - Ritsuka gets an answer from Aiko. The drone is following, and Ritsuka is told that there's a black SUV following Ritsuka's car. It's a vehicle known to be owned by the Hand. Fortunately though, Ritsuka is able to avoid it, turning through a few back streets. Angela speaks up again after a few minutes. "I just want to go back to my life. I haven't done anything wrong. Please don't hand me over. They wanted to take me to Boston- To Vetronics and they've done the same to other employees they didn't want. They're saying they're doing something over there and no one's come back. Please don't hand me over." - Angela isn't acting like a criminal. She's not even trying to fight. She's very compliant. Could it be possible that the Temple and Hand would both send fake information to Venice so they could do something against the law? And why might Hanshin and Tyrell be involved? The answers are of course in Boston, within the Vetronics compound. "They're rounding up the homeless. Not all of us, but some of us, and they're taking us away in black trucks. Please help me."
"I will keep investigating. How would you feel about staying at my place for a couple of weeks?" Ritsuka quietly asks, looking into the back mirror. The Black suv does lead to her furrowing her brows. They have no right to be following. And the Temple? Business interested parties, certainly, a competitor has something going on. The Hand was close with the Haven branch of the Vetr group. But the Temple? But then she did see the neutralizer net. Of course they could be interested. "It would be a little- boring. There would not be a lot of leaving it. But no one would expect me to hide someone there. It is not how the Order usually operates, because I am, more than that, also defying Venice. We will visit the Goblin Market first. Get one of the hearts, cruel as it is, to change your identity and a new face. It does mean starting your life anew. Your friends won't recognize you. You will need to leave them behind. Your coworker won't know you, and in a fashion you will be highly dependent on me. It is a lot of trust I am asking for in a world that is filled with monsters. It would be a couple of weeks because I will make the visit to Boston to find answers. Venice, and my superiors will only hear that I am still investigating. They might not be happy with it, but I am in good standing with the Order locally."
She huffs in a breathe "Alternatively, I would hand you to Lucienne here. She would handle the cover-up and take you under the Crown. It will likely not need a heart, but it is then out of my hands. It might abide Venice too much. The Hand might have a spy, the Temple find a loophole. They won't attack, but they will always look for an opportunity. I can also just take you with me to a different country. Japan, ask my parents if they could keep you safe, but then you are in a place where we need to fabricate a Visa for you, where you don't speak the language. And I would not be too happy if you tried to feed on my parents or friends in Japan. I can also just drop you off somewhere, but then you won't have a lot of support. You need to be the one to make the decision. And all of them are difficult."
As Ritsuka starts to talk, Angela nods to each point. To the child's heart for flesh forming she shakes her head. Looking green, she flat says no for that, but accepts the Order protection. Angela goes with Ritsuka's contact in Lucienne, and the woman works on cover ups. The criminal, as it turns out after some research is nothing of the sort, but one of a number of victims that are being kidnapped off the streets, but for what? Why? And after checking in with Venice, the Order were asked to look into this on account of how unusual it was that the Hand and Temple both wanted Angela Henderson. Ritsuka is asked to look into Vetronics- Which of course she's already doing. Angela vanishes, and Lucienne tells Ritsuka no more than that. It's for the best, and it causes safety for an innocent wrapped up in something apparently criminal. Ritsuka is able to go home, back to her life with at least one answer; That people are vanishing off the streets. And is this isolated with one angelborn, or do Vetronics want more for their secret project in Boston?
To be continued in: Rise of the VetrDrone
The narrative then shifts focus to Ritsuka's mission involving Angela Henderson, a woman wrongly accused of being a supernatural criminal. Entrusted with resolving this delicate matter, Ritsuka gathers a team of allies and strategizes a non-violent approach. They discover Angela silently serving breakfast at a community center, her demeanor far from that of a criminal. Angela reveals she's been unjustly targeted after unwittingly coming across sensitive documents at her workplace, which led to her dismissal and subsequent persecution by powerful entities including the Hand and the Temple. Angela's testimony unveils a larger, ominous scheme involving the disappearance of the homeless, hinting at a grim project in Boston. Ritsuka, weighing the gravity of Angela's plight and the murky machinations she's entangled in, offers her sanctuary and a chance at a new life under the Order's protection. This begins a deeper investigation into the sinister operations of Vetronics, setting the stage for further revelations and confrontations in the shadowy world Ritsuka navigates.
(Ritsuka's odd encounter(SRLanaeis):SRLanaeis)
[Sun Nov 3 2024]
In an Entrance Hall and Kitchen
The entrance to the shrine home is simple and elegant. The entrance is made up out of a smooth stone floor at the genkan, the traditional Japanese entryway. A small, neatly arranged rack holds different pairs of women oriented shoes, while a low wooden bench offers a place to sit and remove footwear before stepping up onto the polished wooden floors of the main home. Above, an overhead beam made from dark cedar wood bears hand-carved motifs of swirling clouds and sacred cranes, symbols of longevity and protection.
To the side, the kitchen area appears to be both functional and minimalist. A simple wooden counter, free of clutter, holds carefully arranged utensils and a ceramic tea set. A black iron kettle sits atop a traditional stove. Small shelves on the wall display earthenware jars containing rice, miso, and other essentials, each jar decorated with intricate calligraphy.
It is night, about 35F(1C) degrees, and there are a few wispy white clouds in the sky. There is a waxing crescent moon.
(A ghost with only fragments of memory that have driven them near insane is attacking your target. They must either defeat it or find a way to calm it down.
)
Ritsuka is just making her way into the kitchen area of her home, which then can also be exited from by another door. She had just put on a coat, some make up - and looks close to divine as she reaches around her kitchen to finish preparing a bento box for herself. It seems she is intending to leave for work very soon.
Morning light drifts in through the windows, pooling like liquid on the floor. As Ritsuka is going about her business of preparing for a day of work, it does seem just a bit colder than a minute ago. It could be Ritsuka's imagination, but there is a flicker in the corner of her eye, gone before she can turn toward it. The door leading outside shudders slightly, but that is the only significant thing that happens for a moment. The rustling of food preparation are all that is heard... Until the box Ritsuka is preparing is launched from her hands and straight up, barely missing hitting her in the face. It clatters to the floor, spilling its contents across the floor.
Ritsuka glances around the room - and there is an audible sigh that leaves from her. The colder temperature? Stuff being flung around, yeah, she has seen it already a couple of times. "How rude, if you want to be haunting this place you got to at least pay rent. You got to clean this up now, I'm not working for you and you are leaving all the housing costs to me already." She does reach around her dress, though she looks almost divine as she currently is, she is not unarmed, and so, a little blade, a wakizashi draws from under her coat into one of her hands. She makes no stance - people familiar with ritualism know it for what it is: She is preparing to cast a ritual, she does point out. "Do I need to cast a ritual to ask you to leave or can we be civilized people and see how you can be allowed to rest gently?"
A flicker near the shelf heralds a jar of rice rising from the shelf. A faint voice whispers "Not again." Before the jar comes flying at Ritsuka. She is barely able to move out of its way, as a small form slowly materializes. It appears to be a small boy, about eight. His clothes are stained with a mixture of mud and blood. The latter pours freely from the gash in his throat. He has brown hair, tangled with leaves and twigs, and blue eyes that are filled with a sadness that seems to weigh on the very soul. His cheeks are stained with tears, and his feet are bare. He appears to be wearing pajamas, though from the amount of filth and blood on him, its hard to tell. "You didn't stop daddy. Why mommy? Why didn't you stop daddy?" Turning, Ritsuka will find herself faced with another child, this one a girl. She is wearing similar clothing to the other boy, with long brown hair that falls to the middle of her back. Large patches of it have been yanked out... along with the flaps of skin on her scalp, baring her skull in several places. Her stomach has been brutally torn open, the jagged rip spilling visceral gore down her legs in tendrils. The right side of her face is visible, scratched and bloody, the eye on that side swelling shut. The left side, however, is caved in, the eye hanging from the battered socket. "You left us mommy." The girl says, her voice like the whisper of wind through dead leaves.
Ritsuka lets out a long sigh again, if these two just would not be causing trouble in the form of unpaid labor for cleaning today. "I am doubting your mother would abandon you to this fate if she had been able to stop it. More likely she got hurt, too." She sighs. "You can stay here if you behave. I will protect you, but-" She gestures to the food on the ground now. "No more throwing food around? And I can find and punish whom has hurt you."
The boy scuffs his foot against the ground, leaving a streak of blood. "You left us. Daddy said he would deal with it, and you left us mommy." "He hurt us mommy. Why did you just stand there? Why?" The girl's intact cheek is streaked with tears as she stares up at Ritsuka. The temperature in the room has dropped to an almost freezing temperature now, Ritsuka's sheer clothing becoming a punishment as cold bites at her skin.
Perhaps if it was not for being at a shrine dedicated to the cult's Eidolon, the frost would bite Ritsuka more, but she does reach for her coat to close it all the same, but she keeps holding on to that blade of hers. And it is where she finds herself less worried, a kami, or Eidolon, is protecting her here somewhat. Her eyes do lower. "Maybe she has tried to get help, little children. But some men can be very cruel, and he got to her before she can get help." She holds the blade over her other palm. "Can you tell me who your father is? Your mother could not do what she wanted, but you are with me now. I can help you now and be righteous vengeance." the blade lowers again and she tries to pat the ghostly figure of the girl on the head with her free hand, trying to wipe away one of her tears. Her expression is gentle, and something sad lingers in her eyes.
When Ritsuka's hand come into contact with the girl's head, she can feel a bitter cold tearing into her very mind, before all she can see is white... Mommy wakes her up, but its still dark out. Bobby is there too, and daddy says its time to go for a ride in the car and mommy says to go get in the car. Bobby is still asleep like always and daddy drives her and mommy and Bobby out into the forest. Daddy says to get out and wait with mommy and then daddy goes into the trunk and pulls out something shiny and mommy is hugging Bobby but mommy gives Bobby to daddy and holds her hand. She follows Bobby and daddy into the woods and daddy has the hammer and his hunting knife. She's cold and the woods are painful and she's got no shoes. Mommy says we'll be there soon so she hugs close to mommy and Bobby is waking up. She's in a clearing. Daddy has Bobby and is hugging Bobby. Then Bobby's on the ground and he's bleeding and screaming and she's running. Mommy starts to come after her but daddy says he'll deal with it and he's running after her. Daddy grabs her hair and she screams and keeps running and branches are hitting her head and it hurts so so bad. Daddy grabs her again when she runs into a tree. She cries and asks him why and daddy just smiles and it hurts so bad. Ritsuka can see now, not through the girl. A man in dark clothing lifts the hammer again. Crunch. Again. Squelch. He's holding the knife now. Bending over his daughter as she dies, he gashes open her stomach, reaching inside and pulling out a fistful of gore. "This will do." He calls to his wife. she carries the boy over, dropping him next to the girl. "Will they be found?" "No, its too far out. Something will eat them first." "Will their souls work to bring it out of the Nightmare?" "They should. I made sure they died in pain like it said." "Good." She turns away from the bodies. The man nods as the scene fades out. When Ritsuka can see again, both children are standing in front of her. "Mommy? You left us." The gleam of metal flashes in the boy's hand. A knife. "You said you'd never leave us mommy." He lifts the knife and touches it to Ritsuka's throat. "You lied mommy. And lying is bad."
"I am not your parent," Ritsuka states, and she has dealt with ghosts on more than a handful of occasions by now and she just takes a step back. It's a child, and she is very tall for a Japanese woman. But the two have become dangerous, and they clearly cannot see that. And so, her own blade raises over her own palm, and draws blood. The thing is way too sharp and cuts her skin like butter. It is not deep, but enough to look pretty horrible - that is until the beads of her blood start to raise into the air as floating blue lights. Those familiar with far eastern culture might know about the tales of kitsune's foxfire. Her features take up a far more focused expression, though the sadness lingers in her eyes. Her tone retains a gentle. "Your parents were bad people. Don't hold on to them now, you should go to home, in the spirit realm. There will be a lot of people that will cherish you both a lot there." She huffs "And I can never genuinely lie, my blood forbids it."
The children circle Ritsuka, the girl lifting a hammer into the light while the boy clutches the knife. "Your like mommy." The boy says, his form beginning to waver. "Your like mommy and daddy and you lie. Lying isn't nice miss." The boy vanishes, and a streak of cold, white agony spears her mind as the boy reappears, hand thrust into her chest. "Your like mommy." The girl reaches out a hand, the limb turning into a monstrous claw. "We're like mommy now too. It told us we can come back and do to mommy and daddy like they did to us. See?" She claws the air, her childlike features beginning to morph into something, more vile. Long fangs protrude from her mouth, and her undamaged side collapses in with a wet crunch. The boy watches his sister in slowly dawning horror. "T-Tia? Where'd Tia go? Mommy? Mommy!" He ducks behind Ritsuka, clinging to her, the knife melting into his body and reappearing buried in his throat, handle jutting under his chin as he holds onto Ritsuka with both tiny hands. Ritsuka vaguely remembers something about wraiths, or was it specters? Either way, this is clearly some kind of twisted spirit, corrupted by some nightmare influence. And now, it is lunging straight at Ritsuka, sharp teeth shiny as the room's temperature plunges. It snaps at Ritsuka, barely missing as some force prevents it from ripping out Ritsuka's throat. When it comes in contact with the magical fires of Ritsuka's magic, it lets out a keening wail of agony, shrinking back for a moment.
Does not look happy at all about the ghostly blade pierced into her, and Ritsuka grimaces. But her focus does not break - oddly enough whatever fear she has is only subtle, it is never enough to overtake her and so she holds firm. "Bobby try and stay behind me. Tia is... not the sister you known her right now. I'll help her try and sleep, but you got to make sure you don't get hurt." She tells the child behind herself. Of course, the truth has also been that, this entire time, she could have just left the house, taken her bike, and just left to deal with this later and come back with more people. There is a little huff as the first of blue fires start to change their coloring, into a purple. "It is not okay, Tia. Most people struggle to be good people because it is difficult. Some of us still try to be good people. Anger is so pointless and just hurts everyone and I won't let you hurt your brother."
The wraith grins, flashing her fangs. "It says we can be a family again once mommy and daddy learn how it is to be hurt. Bobby is MY brother! Give him to me!" She shrieks the last part and lunges, claws slashing through the air. Ritsuka is forced back, causing a brief pause in the ritual. Bobby shivers behind Ritsuka, tears pouring down his cheeks. "Tia?" He whimpers, burying his face in Ritsuka's coat.
"You are scaring him, Tia." Ritsuka tries to point out, her focus lapsed a moment, and she does not look all too happy about it. She does not wane on her focus, but there is a sigh that leaves her again, and she turns around to face Bobby. She kneels down to the boy and tries to grasp her arms around him, as far as such an interaction is even feasible with a ghost. "It's going to be alright, Bobby." She tries to focus the lights closer around herself, the previously purple light turned back to blue. "Your parents made her sick. I don't think I can cure her on my own. Can you help me, Bobby?"
Bobby sniffs, clinging tightly to Ritsuka. "I--I can try." He takes Ritsuka's hand, holding tight to it and causing Ritsuka to feel as if her hand is being held in a bucket of icy water. "T-Tia, Tia, mommy and daddy are gone. Can't we just go home Tia? Please?" The wraith pauses, staring at her brother. Ritsuka is able to focus again, progressing the ritual in the wraith's moment of indecision. The wraith steps forward, clawing at Ritsuka. "He is MY BROTHER!" She screeches. "You can't have him!"
(Your target and their allies are charged with tracking down a supernatural criminal on the run from the factions, what they do with them then is up to the players to decide.
)
Had just completed a ghost banishment. Ritsuka is still standing at the entrance hall, where a shrine to Alabaster stands by thee side. She is safe here. A bento box stands on the kitchen counter, perfectly made, but she still huffs in a breathe, and carefully sheathes the blade of her wakizashi back into its sheath. She was headed for work, but the whole thing has delayed her departure significantly. And so, she lingers here for the moment still, looking down at her phone sending a few texts to work on being late.
Sunday morning in the Haven township. It's quiet; Why should it not be, it's the early hours of the day and Ritsuka is at home on Forest View drive. Outside, the world is hostile; Monsters are not yet to have retired, and they stalk the early hours for prey; For victims from which to feed. Ritsuka knows this well, she is a Sword for the Order, and it is Ritsuka who is often tasked with dealing with such criminal evils in the world of the nocturnal land of monsters. The Order preserves the balance, and such creatures of the darkness are dangers to man and beast both. Alas for Ritsuka's plans however, for another issue comes to light; Not one of mundanity, but one more of a supernatural nature. As Ritsuka prepares her food for later and as she texts, Ritsuka sees an announcement flash up on her phone. It is from Venice, seemingly. A criminal has escaped custody. The figure has gained access to some information that the Temple and Hand both agree needs keeping quiet; A curious thing with how the two factions are so often opposed. But it still is the case. The Order's dispatch center reach out over communications and along with the text notification, Ritsuka is asked for in specific; She is reasonable and will get to the bottom of the situation, being able to find answers that more militant members might not. - The information given includes a photograph of a golden haired young lady in her late twenties or early thirties with deep, soulful blue eyes. She is supernaturally attractive- As are many in the world of monsters, but be it the choice of picture, or her general state of demeanour, but she does not look like a criminal. She looks like any poor, down on their luck human getting themselves out of a bad situation. She is poor, yes, but has been taken care of, and wears a pullover with the Great News community center logo across the chest. The name given is Angela Henderson, and her last known location was the Great News community center within Haven, though she's known to work part time as a cleaner within Mister Ash Starling's Rosie's diner on Hart avenue.
Ritsuka lets out a groan when another thing shows up, but then she does read through it. She takes a deep breathe in through her nose, carefully looks over the photo. Perhaps she had previously seen the woman before, when she made brief visits to the community center, but at the same, most of her interactions with it have been left to be handled by her staff. All the same, beauty often means power. Looks can be deceiving, and sop the first she does is actually make a few calls. First call goes to Yuki, asking her if she is free to help with the capture of a run-away Yokai. They talk wholly in Japanese with another. Then it is Haranobu, her friend with the Hanshin Group to see if she can borrow a drone or two, mostly for observation. They, too talk in Japanese. Then it is a call to Aiko, asking her to help observe via GPS data or the drones if the Hanshin Group would do the favor for her. And then, last, comes a call to Lucienne. It is a conversation in English, asking her to arm up and join her as well with the hunt. She does tell for those people that need to be there in person to come regroup with her at her home.
As Ritsuka reads on, more information is transfered to her phone; Angela Henderson is reported to have been working in the Vetr Global expansion into Haven, working in Vetr-Corp Haven Branch's Vetr Mart. She was responcible for stock taking in the self defense section, and stumbled upon a project belonging to the eidolon Dominus that was not for public understanding. This private document, though important, was shipped to the wrong office and was opened by Angela's superviser. However, having read the header, the poor woman was alienated and captured for "her own good". - All of the people contacted answer in the affirmative, and Ritsuka is granted the support she needs. Though what is perhapse most curious is that the Hanshin group have also heard of Angela Henderson and Ritsuka is told that the Tyrell group have passed them documents that suggests that she is a relitively powerful supernatural with angel blood. The additional Hanshin documentation suggests that Angela was "let go" by Vetr-Corp Haven Branch and this is how she found her way into the soup kitchen of the Great News community center. - Ritsuka has seen her before in passing, though at the time, she kept her head low. She's not one of the homeless who rampaged after Viktorin's nonsense, but one of the unfortunates who were serving meals to her fellow homeless. This of course suggests to Ritsuka some sort of cover up. But still, the Temple and the Hand working together, along with Tyrell and the Hanshin group.
Ritsuka grabs a couple of sunglasses as well, you know, just in case, reading on. She does wait for her own support to arrive, and asks them to wait in the car to hide obvious weapons like Yuki's assault rifle. She for her own wraps a ballistic vest on, and closes her coat to hide it. Her backpack also comes along but is stored in her red car. It is certainly the first she drives it in a little while. She also puts her phone on speaker and an active call with Aiko. She now does only speak in English as Lucienne is with them. "Aiko, can you fly one of the Drones around the Community center, above it? We are probably not going to find her easily if she has got a clue and I didn't see her number on her file, so tracking GPS might be difficult." She asks, and then starts up the engine, slowly making her way over to the community center.
That call to Aiko goes through and Ritsuka's band of experts sets up a communications link for the encounter with Angela. The answer is in the affirmative and Aiko sends a drone, responding to explain that it will be a few minutes before it arrives; Perhapse at the same time that Ritsuka manages to reach the Great News community center. The car starts, and Ritsuka begins to drive. It's a sunday, so in a sleepy town like Haven, the roads are largely clear- Ritsuka notices the drone- Or what could be the drone rocketing over head. The travel itself is easy enough, and now the sun is beginning to rise, and the monsters in Haven have retired for the night, Ritsuka arrives at sixty deadwood street in no time at all. The doors are wide open, and community service volunteers in Great News community center shirts and jackets are ushering the homeless in and out of the doors. The lights are on, and the scents of freshly cooked meals, and the sounds of happy people float out into the street. - Across the street, Ritsuka also notices that her staff in the pharmacy are setting up for the day. The lights are also on, so Ritsuka may relax for her own business. - The drone arrives and circles the community center, its cameras shining through the windows, and Ritsuka gets a running commentary; There are no signs of angela in the store- Only workers. No sign of Angela in the kitchen. No sign of her in the community room, and no sign of her in the chapple. - As Ritsuka travels toward the center propper, no one stops her. There is no sign of Angela Henderson at the desk, where a receptionist ushers volunteers and the homeless through, takes early morning phone calls, and there is no sign of her on the bench. - In the food hall though is another matter. Ritsuka notes that the statue of the dragon still remains, but people ignore it. And that's when she spots blond hair and blue eyes as Angela Henderson is seen serving breakfast to the unfortunates. She seems at home and not dangerous in the least. And then the confirmation comes through on Ritsuka's ear piece; The drone spots Angela Henderson behind the soup ckitchen counter. Ritsuka's group ask Ritsuka for instructions and Ritsuka is left with the choice as to how she will address Angela.
Ritsuka quietly tells to her phone to stay on standby for a moment, and she steps on over towards the kitchen counter. She, of course, does draw attention, she is among the beautiful and does look to be wearing expensive clothing. Not her place, not at all. All the same, there is ease when she steps over to Angela and then simply asks. "Henderson-san? Would you accompany me for a while? I was asked to- recover you by a few parties, and I would prefer to have a conversation with you before anything else." She does reach to her own necklace, touching the pendant that states 'his' around her neck, and then her thump brushes over the concealed symbol of the Order. "I think we might be the only ones able to figure this out and make it be right." It's a risk, but violence is never the first option she chooses. And won't be today either.
As Ritsuka steps up, she gets a few looks from some homeless people, but they appear to be used to things like this. That means that Ritsuka isn't bothered, even though a few people whisper between each other. Angela continues to serve people as Ritsuka tells her team to stand bye, and they each answer in the affirmative. Aiko tells Ritsuka that the drone is ready and waiting on the building top. But when she's addressed, Angela doesn't run, or scream, or even react. She looks Ritsuka up and down and hears her out. She nods, and she serves another homeless man, her own ill-fitting Great News pullover old and thread bare. Angela's shoulders tence as Ritsuka reaches for her necklace, but there's a relieved sigh as she notes the Order symbol. Angela is aware of the Order- And the supernatural, and she agrees to talking to Ritsuka. Of course, it takes her a few minutes to deal with a number of other people, serving them food before stepping away. She follows Ritsuka to where ever she asks with her head bowed as though she's done something wrong; It's almost as though Angela were like a child, submissive as one might expect from an angelborn. - Where then does Ritsuka go with Angela Henderson, and what might she say?
Ritsuka guides Angela back out of the building, and back to the car, offering the last seating to the woman. "This is Lucienne, she is an Orderite, too. And this is Yuki. She is with a military. I'll drive us around for a while, oh and this is another one of my friends on phone. Aiko, can you follow us with the drone? See if anyone is going to be following us. We'll be driving around for a while. Keep mobile." She explains. It is only when everyone's settled in that she starts up the engine and then slowly starts the drive. She looks into the back mirror, and then asks. "Henderson-san, the Hand and the Temple are both very interested in you, going so far as to ask Venice for the Order to find you. And even Tyrelle and Hanshin both have a file for you. For all the information that I've been provided, I don't understand the why. Secret project, from what I can see, but there is no details on it. Would you like to tell me about it if you can? Here, with the three of us, we will make sure are as safe as we are able to provide. I did ask them to accompany me because I don't know how dangerous you would be, I am really glad that I was not needed to be so cautious. I apologize that it looks very intimidating." She keeps the vehicle moving. There is no specific direction it seems to be going, just around, and avoiding places like the Vetr-mart and devilwood drive.
"I didn't do anything." Angela tells Ritsuka. "I was just a stock taker. I worked for Vetr Mart like everyone else. I justworked in the back and organized things." Ritsuka can notice however that the mention of the Hand and the Temple seems to scare her. Angela very clearly wants nothing to do with either. "They fired me. I don't know why. Then they said I couldn't say anything. They asked me to sign a non disclosure agreement. I did, and I said nothing. I lost my apartment, my job and then I had people with neutralizer collars and powerful supernaturals hunting for me. They said I did something I shouldn't, but promice I didn't. I didn't do anything. I did what everyone asked. Now they're going after me and they're saying I'm a criminal, that I escaped from somewhere. I have no idea what's going on..." - Ritsuka gets an answer from Aiko. The drone is following, and Ritsuka is told that there's a black SUV following Ritsuka's car. It's a vehicle known to be owned by the Hand. Fortunately though, Ritsuka is able to avoid it, turning through a few back streets. Angela speaks up again after a few minutes. "I just want to go back to my life. I haven't done anything wrong. Please don't hand me over. They wanted to take me to Boston- To Vetronics and they've done the same to other employees they didn't want. They're saying they're doing something over there and no one's come back. Please don't hand me over." - Angela isn't acting like a criminal. She's not even trying to fight. She's very compliant. Could it be possible that the Temple and Hand would both send fake information to Venice so they could do something against the law? And why might Hanshin and Tyrell be involved? The answers are of course in Boston, within the Vetronics compound. "They're rounding up the homeless. Not all of us, but some of us, and they're taking us away in black trucks. Please help me."
"I will keep investigating. How would you feel about staying at my place for a couple of weeks?" Ritsuka quietly asks, looking into the back mirror. The Black suv does lead to her furrowing her brows. They have no right to be following. And the Temple? Business interested parties, certainly, a competitor has something going on. The Hand was close with the Haven branch of the Vetr group. But the Temple? But then she did see the neutralizer net. Of course they could be interested. "It would be a little- boring. There would not be a lot of leaving it. But no one would expect me to hide someone there. It is not how the Order usually operates, because I am, more than that, also defying Venice. We will visit the Goblin Market first. Get one of the hearts, cruel as it is, to change your identity and a new face. It does mean starting your life anew. Your friends won't recognize you. You will need to leave them behind. Your coworker won't know you, and in a fashion you will be highly dependent on me. It is a lot of trust I am asking for in a world that is filled with monsters. It would be a couple of weeks because I will make the visit to Boston to find answers. Venice, and my superiors will only hear that I am still investigating. They might not be happy with it, but I am in good standing with the Order locally."
She huffs in a breathe "Alternatively, I would hand you to Lucienne here. She would handle the cover-up and take you under the Crown. It will likely not need a heart, but it is then out of my hands. It might abide Venice too much. The Hand might have a spy, the Temple find a loophole. They won't attack, but they will always look for an opportunity. I can also just take you with me to a different country. Japan, ask my parents if they could keep you safe, but then you are in a place where we need to fabricate a Visa for you, where you don't speak the language. And I would not be too happy if you tried to feed on my parents or friends in Japan. I can also just drop you off somewhere, but then you won't have a lot of support. You need to be the one to make the decision. And all of them are difficult."
As Ritsuka starts to talk, Angela nods to each point. To the child's heart for flesh forming she shakes her head. Looking green, she flat says no for that, but accepts the Order protection. Angela goes with Ritsuka's contact in Lucienne, and the woman works on cover ups. The criminal, as it turns out after some research is nothing of the sort, but one of a number of victims that are being kidnapped off the streets, but for what? Why? And after checking in with Venice, the Order were asked to look into this on account of how unusual it was that the Hand and Temple both wanted Angela Henderson. Ritsuka is asked to look into Vetronics- Which of course she's already doing. Angela vanishes, and Lucienne tells Ritsuka no more than that. It's for the best, and it causes safety for an innocent wrapped up in something apparently criminal. Ritsuka is able to go home, back to her life with at least one answer; That people are vanishing off the streets. And is this isolated with one angelborn, or do Vetronics want more for their secret project in Boston?
To be continued in: Rise of the VetrDrone